Ventra worker hospitalized after zip tie 'prank' goes awry

Tuesday

Sep 24, 2013 at 2:09 PM

The Ionia Department of Public Safety is investigating an incident at Ventra Ionia Main on Beardsley Street late Sept. 19 or early Sept. 20 that left one person in the hospital and several employees without jobs.

Karen Botakaren.bota@sentinel-standard.com

The Ionia Department of Public Safety is investigating an incident at Ventra Ionia Main on Beardsley Street late Sept. 19 or early Sept. 20 that left one person in the hospital and several employees without jobs.

A 24-year-old male employee apparently was the victim of a prank gone wrong, when a co-worker sneaked up on him and placed a plastic zip-tie around his neck, said IDPS Detective Sgt. Cory McDiarmid. The victim passed out and fell to the floor. A maintenance employee who happened to pass by assisted in cutting the zip tie off the victim.

The man was transported to Sparrow Ionia Hospital and then transferred to Sparrow Lansing, where he is recovering. McDiarmid said the victim had indicated he did not want to file charges against his co-worker, however he has not signed documentation to formally waive criminal prosecution. McDiarmid said he intends to follow up with the victim when he is released from the hospital.

Ventra questioned the suspect and witnesses about the incident, and terminated an unnamed number of employees, McDiarmid said.

Cindy Brown, media spokesperson for Ventra Ionia Main, said she had no comment.

No one was arrested in the incident, but the investigation is continuing.